wm mexs DET OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 17 July 1, 2006 Hiking the Middle Fork Area " Long-leafed Phlox Powerline Trail About | mile past the start, at 5400 feet, we come to the Powerline Trail proper. So far, the dry, rocky hillsides are covered in sage and juniper. The sun is still low, and it casts long shadows. We see spider webs along the trail—their silken threads glistening with dew. We reach a crest in the hill and begin to see wildflowers. At first, we spot long-leafed plox, silky lupine, and yarrow. The phlox is A Mules Ear that phlox is a Greek word meaning flame, “a fitting name for this group of plants with their condensed mass of brilliant color.” Long-leafed phlox is said to be the most common and widespread of the phlox group. These flowers are most often associated with sagebrush and rocky soil we walk along this slowly-rising trail, we catch glimpses of Middle Fork down below and to the right. The number and diversity of the wildflowers increase—mules ear, wild geranium, many-flowered stick seed, showy milkweed, meadow salsify, Utah penstemmon, mountain hollyhock, and hawksbeard. Wow! What seemed like a desolate place at the start has turned into a sora profusion! t 3.3 miles and 5700 feet in elevation, we ‘cul the Middle Fork River crossing. It’s very high and strong; higher than we’ve ever seen it. We know from past hikes that the Powerline Trail will continue east for another five miles or so where it reaches a ridge and looks out over the entire eastern end of the county. But today, as planned, we turn back and retrace our steps for two miles. When we get to the intersection with the “spur” trail, we go to the right and stay on the Powerline Trail. m here, we climb slightly to a crest in the trail and then start a slow, lazy descent. We come to a number of springs up and down the slopes, and the types of wildflowers change. At first we see a few camas, and then we notice hundreds of them poking out from the grassy slopes. These members of Ken WW Cell: Fax: 940-0217 745-3786 . Pineview Estates Now Taking Reservations! DAYS JULY 4TH LIBERTY PARK WILL BE OPENING THE TIME CAPSULES FROM THE OLD RED CHURCH DURING DINNER. 7:30 8:00 10:00 10:30 11:00 1:00 1:30 5:00 5:30 6:00 6:00 Dusk Watt 801-824-5070 801-870-8456 801-824-5070 , next to the old red church -take Hwy. 162 west from Valley market (vou will pass Eats of Eden), go right at stop sign by the old red church. SSS Turner Doreen LIBERTY EVENT From off in the distance, emanating from Yarrow the direction of Gertsen Bay, comes the haunting song of sandhill cranes. We can see the southern end of Ogden Valley below us with the boats on Pineview and cars on the roads. U it’s quiet except for the birds and the slight breeze. Just as we had estimated, when we get back to the car the GPS says we’ve walked eight miles. By now it’s almost noon, and the trailhead is full of trucks with horse trailers. Exactly as Craig described it! 801-710-8800 745-9544 Kevin Johnson Gertsen Trail and Home Just past mile 6, at 5350 feet in elevation, we come to the Gertsen Trail that runs from Middle Fork Trailhead up Gertsen Canyon. We take a left, heading back to Middle Fork Trailhead. This trail is Ogden Valley Specialist HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING (801) the lily family have deep violet blue flowers with spikey pedals, and long yellow-tipped stamens. I’ve seen them on the trail from the Art Nord Trailhead to Maples and on the East Fork of the Wheeler Creek. These flowers prefer moist meadows, and are said to produce large fields of blue in some areas that, from a distance, look like pools of water. Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains says that camas was one of the most significant staples and monetary plants of Western Indians. The bulbs were dug in spring, but care was taken not to collect death camas. Sure enough, further on, we come upon death camas interspersed with the camas. This lily plant has white flowers all bunched up in a raceme or oval-shaped cluster, and long spear-like leaves. wn a beautiful pink in color, with five-pedaled flowers and long, spikey leaves. Sagebrush Country, a Wildflower Sanctuary explains © — ~ Trailhead. We expect the total distance will be about 8 miles. We head up the slight incline that’s the start of this spur trail. The trail is sandy at first, and the going is tough as our feet sink d slip back with each step. But in a few hundred feet, the surface turns rocky and it’s easier going. Within less than a mile, we come to a fork in the trail. To the right is Middle Fork Trail, a beautiful route that follows the Middle Fork for about 4 or 5 miles. The Middle Fork is the most popular route for equestrians. We won’t take it today, though, as the trail crosses the river several times, and we don’t think we'll be able to handle the crossings on foot this early in the son.n Just past the fork we come to the canal that crosses the “spur” trail. Usually, we ave no problem jumping over it, but today we have to walk upstream looking for a narrow place to cross. We’re in a wetlands area, and the red-winged black birds are “chacking” up a racket! The National Geographic Field Guide calls these birds “an abundant and aggressive species.” The Birds of Utah Field Guide says that they’re one of the most widespread and numerous birds in the state. We can believe it, as we can hear their “gurgling” far up the trail. ° Middle Fork Trailhead is the starting point for several wonderful hikes. But maybe I should say “rides” instead of hikes, as this is a popular trailhead for equestrians. To see the trailhead on most weekends during the summer, one might say this is the most popular trailhead for equestrians in the area. There is always a dozen or more horse trailers parked under and around the big cottonwood trees here. The Wasatch Front Chapter of Back Country Horsemen has adopted the Middle Fork Trailhead, and their members spend three or four days during the year providing trailhead maintenance and improvements. These maintenance sessions always involve a “burger burn,” as Chapter President Craig Allen calls it. The Chapter also performed maintenance on National Trails Day; 20 members showed up. One problem, though—there were so many trail users parked in the area, trailers in tow, that there was no free trailhead to maintain. They consulted a DWR employee who happened to be there, and he suggested they pull dyers woad from the hillside north of the trailhead. As Craig describes it, the hillside was light yellow when they began. By the time they finished, the hillside was green. Thanks, Back Country Horsemen! But let’s get on the trail! Starting Out As usual, we’re at the trailhead early. The GPS reads just over 5060 feet in elevation. From the trailhead, we can hear the rush of the Middle Fork of the Ogden River, and as we head northeast, we see that the sun is about to come up over the ridge in front of us. There is a slight breeze in our faces, and at this early hour it makes things a bit chilly. Today, the plan is to hike northeast, about one mile up the spur that links the trailhead to the Powerline Trail; then take the Powerline Trail for two miles to where the Middle Fork crosses the trail. Since it’s still early in the season, we assume that we won’t be able to get across the river. That being the case, we'll turn back and retrace our ae for a ouple of rile, and then stay on the Pawvertihe Trail (not turning teft to head back to the trailhead via the spur) to where it crosses Gertsen Canyon Trail. From there, we plan to head back to the Middle Fork n Q 2 By Helene Liebman Prestigious subdivision located above Pineview Reservoir with unbeatable views, community clubhouse includes swimming rele fitness center and gather- ea SCHEDUL LE MUTTON BUSTIN IS CANCELLED ~ No BREAKFAST FLAG CEREMONY PARADE ARENA AND FIELD GAMES BEGIN AND CONTINUE ALL DAY VOLLEYBALL ARM WRESTLING FISH CATCH (2-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-12) DINNER TIME CAPSULES OPENED Cow PLoPp Music AND DANCING FIREWORKS SHEEP Visitors Always Welcome NAVAJO TACO DINNER BEGINNING AT 5:00 P.M. HAFB F-16 FLYOVER AND $100.00 GREASED POLE CLIMB. COME CHECK IT OUT! INCREDIBLE FIREWORKS AT DARK Sit in the Park and watch the fireworks overhead - It's Amazing! Questions? Mike & Stephanie 745-1176. Corridor Protection, Large one acre lots! Reserve yours now! $459,000 to $499,000 River’s Edge Subdivision SAKA NOON A One to two acre lots. NCCT EcT IAA TcA IS $299,000